Judge Dennis Carey III, pictured in this June 2012 photo, today denied Newark's bid to vacate his March 11 ruling directing the city to continue funding the shutdown of the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp.John O'Boyle/The Star-Ledger

NEWARK — A Superior Court judge today upheld his earlier ruling that Newark must continue funding the shutdown of the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp.

Judge Dennis Carey III denied the city’s motion to vacate his March 11 decision ordering Newark to pay nearly $514,000 in back bills and provide additional funding for the ongoing dissolution of the non-profit agency.

Carey noted that both sides agreed to have provisional trustees appointed last year to oversee the shutdown, and he argued that any unspent funds would be returned to city coffers.

“We should all be in this together,” Carey said during today’s hearing. “Whatever it costs, it costs, and whatever’s left over goes back to the city.”

The city had argued the agency has about $1 million in cash on hand, providing enough assets to cover liabilities associated with the shutdown. The city also claimed it should not have to pay for expenses stemming from alleged improprieties at the agency.

City attorney John Scott told Carey that “we’ve been the victim of sorts to improper management of that entity.”

But agency lawyer Angelo Genova said in court the city had presented “no new evidence” in its bid to vacate the judge’s initial ruling, and criticized the city for wanting to “second guess” the provisional trustees’ decisions.

The corporation, which until last year had treated and delivered water for 500,000 customers in northern New Jersey, was the focus of a February report by the state comptroller, alleging poor oversight, nepotism and misappropriation of funds.

Board members of the agency and city officials also were criticized in the report for not providing sufficient oversight.

In today’s hearing, Carey took a shot at former Newark Mayor and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker for not attending board meetings.

“Cory Booker didn’t go to one meeting, not one,” Carey said. “I mean, it’s a disgrace the way the city allowed this to go.”